Mr Vansittart and Godfrey Harland, who appeared by general consent to be considered as _fiancé_ to Grace Vansittart, conversed at the foot of the mizenmast, and a weather cloth was spread in the lower rigging for the benefit of the ladies, who took advantage of its shelter for their camp-stools and wicker-chairs. On the wheel-house benches were seated two or three young officers, who were holding an animated discussion on the probable advent of a Conservative administration, while Miss Vere and Mr Fowler, with Harold Greenwood (who had entirely succumbed to the charms of the fair actress) close at hand, were lounging on the skylight. Suddenly--in the midst of the buzz of conversation and the sound of laughter--came a low, piteous cry, that seemed to rend the air, and spread from one end of the ship to the other. Then a long, deep nautical shout from the maintop bawled out the terrifying words,--‘_Man overboard!_’ In a moment, the whole deck resembled a disturbed anthill, and Mr Coffin ran aft to the wheel. ‘Put your helm a-port, man!’ he cried, seizing the spokes and putting them down; and then in the same breath he shouted, ‘Cut away that life-buoy!’ When the feeble cry was first heard, Alice and Captain Lovell ran to the side of the vessel, whence the sound of a sudden splash had caught their ears. Peering into the water, they saw nothing at first but a small bundle of clothes, but in another moment a velvet cloak and a ‘granny’ bonnet to match came plainly in view--the cloak and the bonnet of Winnie Leyton. Alice turned white and sick with horror. ‘My God!’ she cried, ‘it is our baby! She is drowning! She will die! Will no one save her? Let me go,’ she continued, struggling violently in the detaining grasp of Captain Lovell, who feared lest in her agony she should jump overboard after her sister. ‘Don’t be afraid, dearest,’ he urged. ‘It will be all right. See! they are getting out a boat. They will pick her up in a minute. Pray, _pray_ don’t do anything rash,’ he said, as he attempted to lead her away. As she turned, she encountered Jack Blythe, who was already stripped to his shirt and trousers. ‘Jack! save her!’ she screamed. ‘Never fear, Alice! I will bring her back to you,’ he answered. ‘D--n it, man, stand on one side!’ he shouted to Lovell, as he clutched him violently, and threw him against the astonished bystanders. ‘What the d--’ commenced Lovell, but in another second Jack Blythe, girding up his muscular young figure for the effort, had sprung over the side of the _Pandora_ to the rescue of Winifred Leyton. [Illustration] [Illustration] CHAPTER VII. FREE.